Loose-leaf binder



Aug. 5, 1941. A. M. MARTIN 2,251,614

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Filed Nov. 9, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l ZZUGVZZ OT 16 2gaf /ed ff/farfz'n 1 y" K) a (/1 Aug. 5, 1941. A. M. MARTIN 2,251,614

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Filed Nov 9, '1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 g A ry 671502"Patented Aug. 5, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOOSE-LEAF BINDERAlfred M. Martin, Park Ridge, 111. Application November 9, 1934, SerialNo. 752,219

22 Claims.

This invention relates to loose-leaf binders, more particularlyincluding binders of the class in which opposed sets of leaf-holdingprongs of relatively slight arcuation are held for movement toward andaway from each other.

The invention has marked utility in connection with relatively largebinders of this type, many of which, for example, are of a size saythirteen by from sixteen to nineteen inches in area and from two to fourinches thick. Loose-leaf binders are handled to a large extent by womenor young girl clerks and tomaintain maximum efliciency it is essentialthat the binders be operated and handled with a minimum of efiort.Frequently the binders are mounted on tables or the like in relativelyfixed supports, the binders and supports being separable or not asdesired, as shown for example, in my prior Patent No. 1,722,810 of July30, 1929.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a binderincluding a support which is a permanent part of the binder, servingadvantageously as a back for the binder, which is always in properposition for use as a non-collapsible support, while at the same time isnot relatively fixed with respect to the table. but is selfadjusting andreadily adaptable to varying positions of the binder leaves to afford aflat writing surface on the leaves at all times.

The invention also desirably includes improved shift means whereby thebinder may be used with a plurality of overlapping leaves, a portion ofone leaf being visible below or above another leaf.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved and easilyoperable locking mechanism for automatically but releasably limitingmovement of the prongs away from each other.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, taken together with the accompanying drawings in which-Figure 1 is an end view of the binder in open position with the leavessubstantially evenly divided;

Figure 2 is a partial end View similar to Fig. l, but somewhat enlargedand showing the self-adjusting position of the binder when a majority ofthe leaves are on one side thereof;

Figure 3 is a partial end view of the binder, further enlarged, whenclosed, the leaves being omitted;

Figure 4 is a partial plan view of the binder when open, the leavesbeing omitted, and showing the adaptation of the shift feature thereto,parts being broken away for convenience of description;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the locking mechanism taken along theline 5-5 of Fig. 6; and

Figure 6 is a partial view of the locking mechanism of Fig. 5 associatedwith the binder parts shown in section, and being a section on the line66 of Fig. 5.

Referring in detail to the illustrative construction shown in thedrawings, I have shown a binder comprising generally a back I0, cove-rsH and I2 and toggle mechanism l3 mounted on the back for carrying theopposed sets of prongs I4, 15 in separated or overlapping relation asdesired, the binder being adapted to receive a large number of leavesIt, which may be record sheets, cards or the like, the leaves beingsuitably perforated to be impaled on the prongs I4, [5. The back l3constitutes also a support for the toggle device, when the binder isopened for use and particularly when the binder is placed in workingposition on the flat table top or rest surface [1.

In accordance with my invention, the back or support I0 as here shown,includes a flat metallic base l8 extending the length of the binder andof about the same width as the distance between the covers when theseare closed as shown in Fig. 3. At each side, the base I8 is flangedupwardly to provide a pair of relatively short upstanding walls l9.Mounted for limited movement toward and from each other on the base 18,and in this instance each hinged along the upper edge of one of theupstanding Walls I9, are a pair of support members or side members whichI have denominated as wings 20, each of these wings being hinged to itsadjacent upstanding wall l9 as by the hinge pin 2| passing through thehinge knuckles 22 alternately formed integral with the wall and the wingrespectively. To maintain the wings substantially upright with respectto the base but to permit a slight but limited movement of the wingstoward and away from each other, or, in this instance that is a slightmovement of each vring on one side of the line passing through the hinge2i perpendicularly to the base l8, I have here shown the wings havingdepending portions extending downwardly below their hinges as at 23 toabut the inner face of the wall l9 at one limit of their movement and astop 24 at the other limit, the stop 24 as here shown being an angularplate having its stop portion preferably at the same inclination as theextreme inclination of the wing and substantially co-terminous with thelength of the base and spot-welded or otherwise suitably secured theretoin the vicinity of the upstanding wall I9.

The prong-holding means represented by the toggle device I3 is in twoparts, 25 and 26, desirably of somewhat hollow box-like metallic formation, the two parts being hinged together on their adjacent lowerinner corners as at 21, medially of the base 8, this hinge being similarto the hinges 2|, and the toggle parts and hinge extending substantiallyslightly less than the length of the base l8, so that the base projectsbeyond the toggle device as shown in Fig. 3, whereby these parts mayinternest in closed position of the binder.

Each of the parts 25 and 26 of the toggle device, as here shown,includes an angular portion 28 and 29 respectively, which extend awayfrom the parts 25, 26 at each side of the toggle and are hinged alongthe upper edges of the wings 20, respectively, as at 30 and 3 I, nearlybut not quite at the upper edges of the angular portions 28, 29. It willbe noted that the prongs I4, I are secured respectively to the angularportions 28, 29 of the toggle as by longitudinally extending plates 32,33 suitably secured thereto as by spot-welding. Thus the toggle deviceand the prongs together roughly form somewhat of a parallelogram whenthe prongs are in extreme overlapped position, as shown in Fig. 3, thebinder being then closed.

Since my improved device has particular utility in connection with abinder of the shift type in which the leaves on one of the sets ofprongs may be shifted longitudinally of the leaves on the other set soas to selectively offset the upper or lower margins of the leaves withrespect to each other for the purpose of visibility, I have providedimproved means for this purpose. It will be noted first, as best shownin Fig. 4, that the hinge 30 connecting the toggle part 25 to one of thewings 23 includes the usual hinge pin 34, hinge lugs 35 which areintegral with the wing 20 at this side of the binder, and hinge lugs 36which are integral with a plate 31 forming a fixed part of the angularportion 28 of the toggle part 25. The hinge lugs 36 affixed to thetoggle part 25 are shorter longitudinally of the hinge pin 34 than thehinge lugs 35 on the wing, thereby leaving spaces 38 therebetween, andsimilarly, the hinge lugs 39 integral with the toggle part 25 andforming a part of the medial hinge 21 are also shorter than the adjacenthinge lugs 4|] on the toggle part 25, leaving spaces 4| between thesemedial hinge parts. Because the hinge 3| connecting the toggle part 25to its adjacent wing 20 does not have these spaces between the hingelugs, the toggle part 26 cannot shift longitudinally with respect to thebinder while, by reason of the hinge structure just described, thetoggle part 25 is permitted to shift longitudinally of the binder and ofthe toggle part 26 the distance of the spaces 38 and 4| at each side ofthis toggle part, these distances being substantially equal andpermitting relative shifting of the toggle parts a distance of say threeeighths of an inch. Thus in a manner well known to the users of theshift type of binder, when the binder is opened a leaf or record sheetcarried by the prongs l4 may be shifted to this extent with respect to aleaf carried by the prongs l5, the leaf then transferred from prongs Mto the prongs l5 while the prongs are in partly overlapped position asshown in Figs. 1 or 2, and the toggle part 25 then shifted back toalinement with the toggle part 25. Or, as shown in Fig. 4, with thebinder fully opened with the prongs out of overlapped relation, leavesmay be inserted or removed and the prongs then shifted as desired. Thussince only one part of the toggle shifts, and that in only one directionfrom a given position at the limit of its alternative movements, it isnot necessary for the operator to remember which part to shift and inwhich direction. To guard against the binder being closed with thetoggle parts 25, 23 out of alinement, i. e. with the toggle part 25shifted as shown in Fig. 4, for example, I provide registering meansrepresented in this instance by the tongue 42 afiixed on the toggle part25 on its wall which abuts a similar wall on the toggle part 26 in thevicinity of the medial hinge 21. When the toggle parts are in alinementand are moved toward each other to close the binder, the tongue 42 isreceived in an aperture 43 in the toggle part 26, this aperture beingjust large enough to receive the tongue.

To releasably limit opening movement of the toggle device, toautomatically limit separation of the prongs in the first instance, Ihave provided improved locking means therefor. Hitherto locking meansfor this purpose has been located between the toggle parts which has toofrequently meant that the locking device has been under tension when inuse and has been difficult to operate without first moving the toggleparts slightly together. This is difiicult to do when these heavybinders with their large number of leaves or record sheets are in openposition, while attempting to operate the locking mechanism with onehand. Accordingly, I have here located the locking device in a novelposition between the longitudinally fixed toggle part 26 and itsadjacent wing 20, this novel position for the locking device also havingthe further advantage of preventing any interference of the lockingmeans with the longitudinally shiftable toggle part 25. It will be notedthat separation of the prongs i4, i5 (which requires upward movement ofthe medial hinge 27) may be temporarily limited to keep the prongs inoverlapping relation even when the binder is open, by limiting rotationof the toggle part 26 on its adjoining wing 20, and means foraccomplishing this in this instance include a hooked latch 44 suitablysecured to the righthand wing 29 as by a plate part 45 spot-welded toone of the metallic laminations making up this wing, the latchprojecting toward the toggle part 26 and, to accommodate itself to therotation of the toggle part, being advantageously curved on an arehaving its center in the vicinity of the hinge 3|. This latch entersinto the box-like toggle part 26 through an opening ts in its adjacentside and the opening is normally partially closed by a keeper 6? whichengages the hooked portion 48 of the latch Mi. The keeper 4'! is movableand as here shown is a part of a locking bar 45 carried within thetoggle part 26 and slidable longitudinally thereof under guide lugs 55.The locking bar 59 is normally urged to locked position by a compressionspring 5| bottomed at one end against an angular abutment plate 52 andat its other end pressing the locking bar, there being a projectingfinger 53 on the locking bar which enters the convolutions of the springto keep it in position. For retracting the locking bar, it is desirablycontinued to the end of the binder nearest the operator by means of anextension 54 which terminates in a thumb-piece 55. Thus, as the binderis opened, the toggle device opens with the binder sufficiently topermit the leaves or record sheets to lie flat as shown in Fig. l, butcomplete separation of the prongs is temporarily limited by the lockingmeans just described so as to maintain them in overlapped position whileit may be desired to transfer leaves from one set of prongs to theother. When it is desired to insert or remove leaves, the locking meansmay be released by pressure upon the thumb-piece 55 to permit the toggledevice to open further with the prongs in spaced-apart relation as shownin Fig. 4. When the toggle parts are moved together again, either whilethe binder is open by slight pressure upon the prongs (as in Figs. 1 and2) or when the binder is closed (as in Fig. 3) the locking meansthereupon comes into operation again automatically, the nose of thelatch being of cam formation to temporarily wedge the keeper out of theway. The toggle part 26 may be further apertured as at 56 to preventinterference with the hook by providing room for the nose of the latch.

It will be understood that when the locking means just described isreleased and the toggle device fully opened as shown in Fig. 4;, themedial hinge 2'! is at its greatest distance from the base [8 of thebinder back which constitutes the support for the toggle, and furtherthat in all positions of the toggle this medial hinge moves in a planewhich is perpendicular to the base 3. Free movement of this medial hingeis permitted by the provision for hinging the toggle parts to the wingsand also by the further provision of hinging the wings 20 to the base I8for limited rotation thereon. It will be understood that if rotation ofthe wings 20 on ,the base were not I limited the back would collapse andfail to support the toggle device in operative position at all times.

The covers I! and I2 are hinged to the toggle parts and 26 respectivelyas at 51, 58, outwardly of the pivot points 30, 3| there being, in thisinstance, a plate 59 suitably secured between the angular portion 29 forexample (Fig. 6) and a plate Gil forming an operative part of theangular portion of the toggle, the plate 59 carrying the hinge knucklesfor the cover hinge 58, as best shown in Fig. 6, at the right-hand sideof the binder, the cover hinges at the other side being similarlyarranged. Thus when the covers are spread apart their weight exertslevera e on the toggle which desirably tends to move the medial hinge 21vertically and the further weight of the leaves tends to maintain thetoggle in equilibrium with the prongs in somewhat but not completelyoverlapped relation so that leaves can be readily thrown from one set ofprongs to the other.

The covers H and [2 are of rigid material so as to afford a flat surfacesupport for the leaves l6, but are so constructed as to not have sharpedges which might scratch the table or desk [1 and are preferably facedwith leather or the like. Also the binder back I0 is desirably overlaidwith wear-resisting but non-scratching material such as hard rubber orthe like, as at 6| on the wings 2i}, and 62 on the base I8. The cornersof the material '62 on the base are desirably rounded as at 63 so thatthe base may tilt readily as in- 'dicated in Fig. 2 to accommodateitself to the greater proportion of the leaves l6 being upon one side ofthe binder. Formerly, even in binders of this type, when the support hasbeen maintained relatively fixed with respect to the table or desk I!and the majority of the leaves IBhave been on one side of the binder,they have had to assume a somewhat arcuate position to accommodatethemselves to the arcuation of the prongs, but by permitting the back totilt readily, as I have here disclosed, and the prongs to thusadjustthemselves to the position of the leaves, the leaves may lie quiteflat, affording an unbroken writing surface such as 64 (Fig. 2-) on theleft-hand leaves. At the same time, the lefthand toggle part 25 may bereadily shifted 1ongitudinally (provided the toggle device be openedsufiiciently to move the prongs I5 out of engagement with the leaves onthe left-hand side of the binder). It will be understood that in thisshifting of the toggle part 25 longitudinally as already described, theleaves on the left-hand side of the binder and the cover member II, inthis instance, move with the toggle part 25 and the prongs M, while thetoggle part 26, prongs l5, leaves It and cover l2, on the right-handside of the binder, remain relatively stationary.

This ready adaptation of the binder parts to the leaves, to afford thesmooth fiat'working surface 64, for example, while still normallymaintaining the prongs in partly overlapped position, is contributed tonot only by the provision permitting tilting of the back [8 as alreadydescribed, but, in addition, by the articulation of the wings 20 to thebase l8 at the points 2| spaced above the base l8 and not coplanartherewith. Thus the corners 63 are unobstructed to permit the binder toroll freely thereon, while at the same time the wings 2!! are permittedthe maximum rotation necessary while being prevented from collapsing inone direction by the upstanding walls l9 and in the other direction bythe stops 24 which are desirably inclined to lie parallel with the wingswhen they are in their maximum spread-apart relationship as indicated inFigs. 1, 2 and 6. It will be understood that as the binder is opened tothe position shown in Fig. 1, the wings 20 are permitted to move apartat their upper edges their maximum distance, while as the toggle isopened still furtherto the position shown in Fig. 4, the distancebetween the hinges 30 and 3| decreases again and the wings 20 arepermitted to move together accordingly.

It will be noted that, during all movements of the medial hinge 21, thehinge moves vertically up and down at all times with respect to thetable-top I1 and in a plane which may vary as to the table top but isalways normal to the base l8, which assures that the toggle is at alltimes supported in equilibrium on the base through the intermediation ofthe wings 20 even though-the base may be tilted as shown in Fig. 2.Furthermore, when the binder is open with the medial hinge elevated, forexample as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each part (25 and 26) of the toggledevice is carried as by a fulcrum support on its wing,

20. as in this position the toggle part, being intermedially pivoted,has portions extending on each side of the pivot point (the hinge 30 or3|). The weight of the toggle acts as a balance on one side of thispivot point and at least a portion of the weight of leaves and covertends to exert a leverage on the other side of said pivot point. Thus aremarkably improved ease of operation is obtained, no more than a slighteffort being necessary to open and close the binder and to place theleaves in suitable working position.

Obviously, the invention is not limited to the details of constructionshown for purposes of exemplification. Furthermore, it is not essentialthat all features of the invention be used conjoi-ntly, as variouscombinations and sub-combinations may be advantageously employed.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination of prong-holding means in theform of a two-part toggle device having a medial hinge, opposed rows ofprongs carried by said means to move toward and away from each otherwhen the binder is open and the medial hinge is moved in verticaldirections, supporting means for the toggle device, side hingesconnecting the toggle at each side to the supporting means, means on themedial hinge and one of the side hinges permitting one part of thetoggle device to shift on the supporting means longitudinally of theother part of the toggle device, said supporting means comprising a baseand a pair of upstanding wings hinged to the base, the toggle devicebeing hinged to the supporting means in the region of the upper edges ofsaid wings, means limiting the movement of the wings toward and awayfrom each other, and releasable locking means carried jointly by theother part of the toggle device and the said wing to which that part ofthe toggle device is hinged.

2. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination of prong-holding means in theform of a toggle device having a medial hinge, opposed rows of prongscarried by said means to move toward and away from each other when thebinder is open and the medial hinge is moved in vertical directions,supporting means for the toggle device, side hinges connecting thetoggle at each side to the supporting means, and means on the medialhinge and one of the side hinges permitting one side of the toggledevice to shift on the supporting means longitudinally of the other sideof the toggle device, said supporting means comprising a base and a pairof upstanding wings hinged to the base, the toggle device being hingedto the supporting means in the region of the upper edges of said wings,and interengaging means between each of the wings and the basepermitting the wings to have limited movement toward and away from eachother.

3. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination of prong-holding means in theform of a two-part toggle device having a medial hinge, opposed rows ofprongs carried by the toggle device to move toward and away from eachother when the binder is open and the medial hinge is moved in verticaldirections, supporting means for the toggle device, side hingesconnecting the toggle device at each side to the supporting means, meanson the medial hinge and one of the side hinges permitting one part ofthe toggle device to shift on the supporting means longitudinally of theother part of the toggle device, and releasable locking means havingparts carried respectively by the other part of the toggle device andthe adjacent side of the supporting means, for limiting relativerotation of the toggle device and supporting means.

4. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination of a normally flat base,relatively short upstanding walls at each side of the base, anupstanding wing pivotally mounted along the upper edge of each of theupstanding walls respectively for limited movement thereon,prong-holding means in the form of a two-part toggle device having amedial hinge, opposed rows of prongs carried by the toggle device tomove toward and away from each other when the binder is open and themedial hinge is moved in vertical directions, each part of the toggledevice being pivotally mounted along the upper edge of one of the wings,the said medial hinge and the pivot of one of the toggle parts on itswing being arranged for longitudinal movement of that part of the toggledevice with respect to the other part, releasable locking means havinginterengaging parts carried respectively by said other part of thetoggle device and its adjacent wing releasably limiting upward movementof the medial hinge, and a cover member hinged to each of the toggleparts.

5, The structure of claim 4 wherein the corners of the binder betweenthe base and the short upstanding walls are rounded to permit readytilting of the base and the toggle device on one of said corners when amajority of the binder leaves are moved onto one of the rows of prongs.

6. The structure of claim 4 wherein the locking means is operative onlyto releasably limit upward vertical movement of the medial hinge to movethe prongs apart.

7. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination of prong-holding means in theform of a toggle device having a medial hinge, opposed rows of prongscarried by said means to move toward and away from each other when thebinder is open and the medial hinge is moved in vertical directions,supporting means for the toggle device, side hinges connecting thetoggle at each side to the supporting means, a pair of covers hinged tothe toggle device at each side respectively apart from the said hingesconnecting the toggle device to the supporting means, said side hingesengaging the toggle device below the points where the covers are hingedwhereby the covers when spread apart, tend to rotate the toggle device.

8. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination of a normally flat base,relatively short upstanding walls at each side of the base, anupstanding wing pivotally mounted along the upper edge of each of theupstanding walls for limited movement teward and away from each other,means providing. for said limited movement of each wing including adepending portion on the wing lapping the inner face of the said walland a stop on the base spaced apart from the wall in the path of thedepending portion, prong-holding means in the form of a two-part toggledevice having a medial hinge, each side of the toggle device beingpivotally mounted along the upper edge of one of the wings, opposed rowsof prongs carried by the parts of the toggle device to move toward andaway from each other when the binder is open and the medial hinge ismoved in vertical directions, the said medial hinge and the pivot of oneof the tog-gle parts on its wing being arranged for longitudinalmovement of that part of the tog-gle device with respect to the otherpart, releasable locking means carried jointly by said other part of thetoggle device and its adjacent wing for releasably limiting upwardmovement of the medial hinge, said locking means including a rigid hookon the wing received in an aperture in the toggle part and a movablekeeper carried by the toggle part in the path of the hook, and a covermember hinged to each of the toggle parts.

9. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination of a toggle device having amedial hinge, a support for said toggle device including a base and apair of upstanding wings, the toggle device being hinged to said wingsrespectively to permit movement of the medial hinge in a directionnormal to the base, and locking means carried jointly by the toggledevice and one of said wings for limiting movement of the medial hingein one direction. V

10. The structure of claim 9 wherein th looking means includes a hookedcatch mounted on the wing, and a yieldingly mounted keeper carried bythe toggle device normally spring-pressed into the path of the hookedportion of the catch to engage the hook, said keeper having an extensionfor moving the keeper against the action of the spring to permitwithdrawal of the catch.

11. The structure of claim 9 wherein the looking means includes a hookedcatch mounted on the wing, an aperture in the toggle device receivingsaid hooked catch and a yieldingly mounted keeper carried by the toggledevice and normally spring-pressed to partially close said aperture,said keeper having an extension in the form of a bar for moving thekeeper against the action of the spring to permit withdrawal of thehooked catch.

12. The structure of claim 9 wherein the locking means includes a hookedcatch mounted on the wing, an aperture in the toggle device receivingsaid hooked catch and a yieldingly mounted keeper carried by the toggledevice and normally spring-pressed to partially close said aperture,said catch being curved on a radius having its center substantiallycoincident with the hinge point of the toggle on the wing.

13. A loose-leaf binder, comprising in combination, spaced-apart sidemembers, a toggle device permanently suspended on said side members, theside members being relatively movable toward and from each other at thepoints where the toggle device is attached thereto respectively, a basepermanently attached to the side members and upon whichat least one ofthe side members is mounted to rotate, said base extending transverselyof the side members a less distance than the maximum spread of the sidemembers when rotated apart by the movement of the toggle device, andinterengaging means carried by the base and said rotatably mounted sidemember in the region of said side member for maintaining the side membersubstantially upright with respect to the base while permitting limitedrotation of the side member, said base having rounded corners wherebythe entire structure is free to rotate on a rest surface withoutdisturbing the relationship of the side members and toggle device.

14. A prong binder having a normally troughlike toggle device having amedial hinge at the bottom of the trough and side hinges along the upperedges of the trough and a rigid cover flexibly connected to each side ofthe toggle device by said side hinges, said binder comprising incombination a normally horizontal rigid base and a pair of upstandingrigid members carried by the base and forming with the base asubstantially trough-like receptacle in which the toggle device isnormally nested, said upstanding members being proportioned to engagethe toggle device proximate but slightly below the flexible connectionsbetween the covers and the toggle device, at least one of saidupstanding members being mounted on the base for limited lateralmovement of the upper edge thereof relative to the other members toprovide for free up and down movement of the medial hinge, meanslimiting said relative movement of the upstanding members, hinge pinsconnecting the toggle device at the sides thereof to the upstandingmembers respectively, said upstanding members when spread apart to thelimit of their relative lateral movement being farther apart at theirupper edges than the width of the base.

15; In a loose-leaf binder, the combination with a flat base of a pairof relatively laterally movable upstanding members carried by the base,means limiting relative lateral movement of the upper edges of saidupstanding members toward and away from each other while maintainingsaid members upstanding, prong-carrying means intermedially pivoted oneach of said members respectively, one of the prong-carrying means beingarranged for limited longitudinal movement with respect to the otherprong-carrying means, and a cover member hinged to each of theprongcarrying means apart from said pivot point.

16. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination with a fiat base of a pairof laterally movable upstanding members carried by the base, meanslimiting relative lateral movement of the upper edges of said upstandingmembers toward and away from each other while maintaining said membersupstanding, prong carrying means intermedially pivoted on each of saidmembers respectively, and a cover member hinged to each of theprong-carrying means apart from said pivot point, the upper edges of theupstanding members when spread apart to the limit of their permittedrelative lateral movement being farther apart than the width of thebase.

17. In a loose-leaf binder having a unitary combined binderback andsupport, the structure including a base carried by the binder adapted tolie normally on a table top or the like, laterally movable upstandingmembers carried by the base, means limiting relative lateral movement ofthe upstanding members toward and away from each other While maintainingsaid members upstanding, prong-carrying means carried by each of theupstanding members respectively, each of said prong-carrying means beinghinged intermedially to one of the upstanding members and having a rigidportion capable of extending outwardly beyond said hinge when theprong-carrying means is swung outwardly therefrom, said hingeconstituting a fulcrum support for the prong-carrying means when theprong-carrying means is rotated on the support, and a cover memberhinged to the portion of each prong-carrying means which extendsoutwardly beyond the first-mentioned hinge whereby when theprong-carrying means are partially rotated outwardly on the supportingmembers at least a portion of the weight of the covers exerts a slightleverage tending to further rotate the prong-carrying means.

18. In a loose-leaf binder having a unitary combined binder back andsupport, the structure including a base carried by the binder adapted tolie normally on a table top or the like, laterally movable upstandingmembers carried by the base, means limiting relative lateral movement ofthe upstanding members toward and away from each other while maintainingthe members upstanding, a two-part toggle device having a medial hingeand comprising a pair of prongcarrying means carried by the upstandingmembers respectively, each of said prong-carrying means being hingedintermedially to one of the upstanding members and having a rigidportion capable of extending outwardly beyond said hinge when theprong-carrying means is swung outwardly therefrom, said hingeconstituting a fulcrum support for the prong-carrying means when theprong-carrying means is rotated on the support, and a cover memberhinged to the portion of each prong-carrying means which extendsoutwardly beyond the first-mentioned hinge whereby when theprong-carrying means are partially rotated outwarcfly on the supportingmembers at least a portion of the weight of the covers exerts a slightleverage tending to further rotate the prong-carrying means.

19. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination with a binder back having abase and a pair of upstanding members carried by the base, a two parttoggle device pivoted on said upstanding members, a rigid cover hingedto each side of the toggle device, and prongs carried by the toggledevice, the toggle device Where so pivoted being hinged to the saidupstanding members respectively between the prongs and the hinges forsaid covers whereby the upstanding members constitute permanent fulcrumsfor the toggle device, a row of prongs being mounted along one side ofbut relatively close to each fulcrum and a cover being hinged relativelyclose to but on the opposite side of said fulcrum.

20. In a loose leaf binder, a binder back, a prong carrying plateslidably secured to said binder back, and an outer cover member hingedto said prong carrying plate whereby said prong carrying plate may beslid by manipulation of said outer cover member.

21. In a loose leaf binder, a binder back, 9. prong carrying plateslidably secured to said binder back, an outer cover member hinged tosaid prong carrying plate, said prong carrying plate being slidable bymanipulation of said outer cover member, and a plurality of ears on saidbinder back adapted to limit the sliding movement of said prong carryingplate and said cover member.

22. In a loose leaf binder, the combination with a binder back having abase and a pair of upstanding members carried by the base, ofprong-carrying means pivoted on said upstanding members, a cover memberhinged to said prong-carrying means, and a row of prongs carried by saidprong-carrying means, the prongcarrying means being hinged to one of theupstanding members between the hinge for said cover and said row ofprongs whereby the said last mentioned upstanding member constitutes apermanent fulcrum for the prong carrying means hinged thereto, the saidcover member being hinged on one side of the said fulcrum and the saidrow of prongs being mounted on the opposite side thereof. 7

ALFRED M. MARTIN.

